XLK vs. VDY.TO

Last updated Jun 14, 2026

XLK (State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF) and VDY.TO (Vanguard FTSE Canadian High Dividend Yield Index ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - XLK is a Technology Equities fund tracking the S&P Technology Select Sector Daily Capped 35/20 Index, while VDY.TO is a Dividend fund tracking the FTSE Canada High Dividend Yield Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, XLK returned 25.19%/yr vs 13.61%/yr for VDY.TO. At a 0.37 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. XLK charges 0.08%/yr vs 0.22%/yr for VDY.TO.

Performance

XLK vs. VDY.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) and Vanguard FTSE Canadian High Dividend Yield Index ETF (VDY.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Different Trading Currencies

XLK is traded in USD, while VDY.TO is traded in CAD. To make them comparable, the VDY.TO values have been converted to USD using the latest available exchange rates.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, XLK achieves a 28.52% return, which is significantly higher than VDY.TO's 21.35% return. Over the past 10 years, XLK has outperformed VDY.TO with an annualized return of 25.19%, while VDY.TO has yielded a comparatively lower 13.61% annualized return.

XLK

• 1D: 0.87%
• 1M: 2.95%
• YTD: 28.52%
• 6M: 28.96%
• 1Y: 55.42%
• 3Y*: 30.28%
• 5Y*: 22.02%
• 10Y*: 25.19%

VDY.TO

• 1D: 0.47%
• 1M: 3.28%
• YTD: 21.35%
• 6M: 21.69%
• 1Y: 45.54%
• 3Y*: 25.54%
• 5Y*: 14.55%
• 10Y*: 13.61%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

XLK vs. VDY.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
XLK State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF	28.52%	24.61%	21.63%	56.02%	-27.73%	34.74%	43.62%	49.86%	-1.68%	34.26%
VDY.TO Vanguard FTSE Canadian High Dividend Yield Index ETF	21.35%	35.39%	11.96%	11.05%	-6.18%	36.67%	1.03%	26.64%	-17.06%	16.18%

Correlation

The correlation between XLK and VDY.TO is 0.23, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.23
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.31
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.35
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.35
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 8, 2012	0.37

The correlation between XLK and VDY.TO shifts across timeframes, from 0.23 (1 year) to 0.37 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

XLK vs. VDY.TO - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	XLK	VDY.TO
Technology	99.7%	0.4%
Energy	0.2%	30.8%
Industrials	0.1%	0.2%
Basic Materials	-	2.2%
Communication Services	-	2.8%
Consumer Cyclical	-	3.0%
Consumer Defensive	-	0.4%
Financial Services	-	56.0%
Healthcare	-	0.1%
Real Estate	-	-
Utilities	-	4.1%

Return for Risk

XLK vs. VDY.TO — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

XLK

XLK Risk / Return Rank: 76
XLK Sharpe Ratio Rank: 85
XLK Sortino Ratio Rank: 76
XLK Omega Ratio Rank: 78
XLK Calmar Ratio Rank: 75
XLK Martin Ratio Rank: 68

VDY.TO

VDY.TO Risk / Return Rank: 98
VDY.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 99
VDY.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 98
VDY.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 98
VDY.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 98
VDY.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 98

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

XLK vs. VDY.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) and Vanguard FTSE Canadian High Dividend Yield Index ETF (VDY.TO). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

	XLK	VDY.TO	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.37	4.99	-2.62
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.92	6.89	-3.97
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.39	1.94	-0.55
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	3.36	12.92	-9.56
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	10.85	44.56	-33.70

XLK vs. VDY.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current XLK Sharpe Ratio is 2.37, which is lower than the VDY.TO Sharpe Ratio of 4.99. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of XLK and VDY.TO, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

XLK vs. VDY.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum XLK drawdown since its inception was -82.05%, which is greater than VDY.TO's maximum drawdown of -44.42%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XLK and VDY.TO.

Drawdown Indicators

	XLK	VDY.TO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-82.05%	-44.42%	-37.63%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-15.92%	-3.59%	-12.33%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-25.66%	-12.92%	-12.74%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-33.56%	-23.69%	-9.87%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-33.56%	-44.42%	+10.86%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-6.77%	0.00%	-6.77%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-34.93%	-8.79%	-26.14%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	4.92%	1.04%	+3.88%

Volatility

XLK vs. VDY.TO - Volatility Comparison

State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) has a higher volatility of 10.86% compared to Vanguard FTSE Canadian High Dividend Yield Index ETF (VDY.TO) at 3.14%. This indicates that XLK's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VDY.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	XLK	VDY.TO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	10.86%	3.14%	+7.72%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	18.92%	7.41%	+11.51%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	22.55%	9.31%	+13.24%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	25.18%	13.44%	+11.74%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	24.64%	17.45%	+7.19%

XLK vs. VDY.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison

XLK has a 0.08% expense ratio, which is lower than VDY.TO's 0.22% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

XLK vs. VDY.TO - Dividend Comparison

XLK's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.41%, less than VDY.TO's 2.83% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
VDY.TO Vanguard FTSE Canadian High Dividend Yield Index ETF	2.83%	3.59%	4.37%	4.64%	4.42%	3.46%	4.59%	4.25%	4.44%	3.42%	3.25%	4.11%
XLK State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF	0.41%	0.54%	0.66%	0.76%	1.04%	0.65%	0.92%	1.16%	1.60%	1.37%	1.74%	1.79%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both XLK and VDY.TO in my portfolio?

XLK and VDY.TO have a correlation of 0.23, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, XLK or VDY.TO?

On fees, XLK is cheaper at 0.08% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, XLK or VDY.TO?

XLK is cheaper with a 0.08% expense ratio, compared with 0.22% for VDY.TO.

What is the main difference between XLK and VDY.TO?

XLK is categorized as Technology Equities, while VDY.TO is Dividend. XLK tracks S&P Technology Select Sector Daily Capped 35/20 Index, while VDY.TO tracks FTSE Canada High Dividend Yield Index. They also come from different issuers: State Street and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.08% for XLK and 0.22% for VDY.TO.